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04/23/2015 10:47 AMA recycling facility proposed for the old Unilever warehouse site at 30 Old Post Road by Old Post Road, LLC, has many residents upset about what they believe will be a hazardous waste recycling site.
An application for the facility was submitted to the Zoning Board of Appeals by Rick Kowaleski of Clinton, an advisor for Old Post Road, LLC. The plans for the new recycling facility require three variances: an increase in the footprint of the building from 70,000 to 94,600 square feet; a reduction from 25 feet to three feet in buffer between the site and Founder’s Village, a condominium complex across the train tracks that run between the properties; and a reduction of the minimum height requirements for the docks.
Ralph Mirando, a Founder’s Village condominium association member, has concerns about the proposed facility, not only about the proposed increase in size, possible wetland damage, and increase in traffic, but also about the dangers of hazardous waste transport in a densely populated part of town. He said a hazardous waste site creates the possibility of air pollution, noise pollution, and drainage issues.
“We don’t want anything like that in our town,” said Mirando.
The application for the variances was submitted recently, and Mirando has appealed to the town for a public hearing on the issue. The hope is that more townspeople will step forward to help stop the project, just as with the propane storage proposal.
“Six months ago they wanted propane at the west end of town,” said Mirando.
Public outcry against the propane proposal stopped it from being approved. That level of opposition has not been reached with the 30 Old Post Road project.
“Nobody knows about it. You would think that town leaders would take an interest,” said area resident Vincent Cimino.
Though the proposal before the town does not specify that hazardous waste will be recycled on site, both Mirando and Cimino pointed to the possibility that truck and rail car loads of hazardous material could be coming through town daily.
“The facility would have a negative impact on quality of life and property values in town,” said Cimino.
The Zoning Board of Appeals will continue the public hearing on Wednesday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Green Room.